Recording machine



Angfii 19243. 1,465,441

J. A. HOWE.

RECORDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1921 ,mul-fi' 55 '6 Z" K 4@ I0 -O Edif 156W? f4 l y@ Juventa n Y Jflfowe (-5 @Mom/4443,52

Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JUNIUS H'OWE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASBIGNOR T0 REGISTRAR SERVICE i.

CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

RECORDING MACHINE.

Application led September 24, 1921. Serial No. 503,057.

the operation of the instrument, the samev 66 being provided with novel means for id- To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUNiUs A. Hows, a citizen of the United States, residing at f Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Recording Machines, of which the following is a specilication. v

This invention relates to recording machinespa'rticul'arly adapted for use with motor vehicles, such as automobiles or automobile trucks, an object thereof being to provide an improved recording machine or register which will accuratel and etliciently record themileage or distance trav- 'eled by the vehicle, the velocity or rate of speed at which the vehicle is driven at any or all predetermined times, the periods during which the vehicle is standing still and 9 the engine runnin or stopped, and also the periods during w ich the vehicle is in motion and the engine runnin As a result of this invention therefore, it is possible to l' i obtain a completel and accurate record in a graphical mannerv of the lentire use and 'operation of the vehicle or other body in connection with which themachine is used. A further object of thisv invention is to rovide a recording machine or register having means for graphically representing the velocity at which the vehicle travels, and a novel vibratory means for graphically representing land 'recording the use and ab e tape tensioning means.

A 'further object of thisinvention is to provide a recording machine er register, 60 which will be comparatively simple in construction, durable, serviceable and eilicient A1nv use, comparatively eeonomicalto 'l manufacture and adapted to be used in various relationsfor accurately accomplish'- 05, ing the purposes in 'connection with which it maybe utilized.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description thereof, reference being ,had to the accompanying 70 drawing, forming a part of this specification, wherein ike reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views and wherein Fig. l is a front elevation, parts being removed in order to disf 75 1close the mechanism; Fig. 2 is an end view partly in. section of the structure illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 3 `is a top plan view :partly in section; Fig. 4 isa fragmentary Iperspective view of the combined ta holder and marking tape together with the .tape tensioning device; .Fig 5 is ia frag-v .mentaryl side view partly in section ilh'isf;l trating the operation of the tape tensioning .vibratory member; Fig. 7 is a side view `partlynn Asection of the vibratory memberv in the record or tape and a novel a just-H device; Fig. 6 is a. perspective view of the`85 y operationof the vehicle, the same compris-v ing a vibratory member and a marker or stylus controlled thereby, the vibratory member ybeing pivotally mounted lin a nonequilibrious manner and having' resilient or A flexible means for eounterbalancing or supand the marker; Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the'marker; Figi) is a fragmentary view of a record tape; and Fi detail views of the movab e marker.

Bef/erring to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferredembodiment of 'my 10 and 11 are 90 40 porting the .same whereby the'vibrations of the body will impart oscillatory or vibratory movements to the vibratory member such movementbein defined .by ,they ten sion of the counterba ancing or supporting means. l v

A further object of this invention is to provide a recording instrument having means for graphically representing upon a movable record tape or thelike the use and operation of the vehicle/or other body inA .inventiom-it will be seen that my improved recording machine comprises a suitable casing 10 adapted to receive and support the .recording mechanism. This mechanism in y cludescan'i controlled operating means con vprisin in the present instance a cam 11 pivota y mounted for rotary movementin `suitable frame bearings'or bearing brackets l 12 securedv by means of a supporting plate 18 tothe rear of the casing. The cam 11 carries adjacent to one end thereof a worm' .used and a combined record holder and marking or recording table so constructed as to prevent injury to the markerduring connection with which/the instrument is lgear 14 cooperating with a worm 15 carried 105 y and operati shaft 16 mounted'in a ,bearing 17 exten ing from 4the casing. The

shaft 16 is adapted to be connected in any 'provided with an upper `flange 30 for supyheld in pos desired. manner to a vehicle wheel, Similar to the usual connection for a. speed meter, and as a result thereof the @am 1.1 in operation will be rotated et a predetermined rate of speed. D

A honi in l supporting shel 18 is mounted in the if and supported as by means of a langec ,e l@ as illustrated in L This shelf` is provided inany suitab e manner with inturned guide flanges 20 and 21 spaced from each other a suitable distance apart, the same together With the shelf 18 forming a guideway adapted to receive for shiftable movement a reciprocating slide 22. Adjacent to its rear end slide 22 is rovided with a depending pin 23 extent ing into and cooperating with a cam groove 24 -formed on the cam 1l. Thus, it will be seen vthat upon rotating the cam 11 the pin 23 will follow the path of the earn groove and as a result thereof the slide member 22 will be shifted or naiiprocated. upon the guide member 18 and between theguide flanges 20 and 21. The guide late 18 is provided with a slot 18l shown in ig. 3 for the purpose of permitting reciprooatory movement of the pin 23.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the slide 22 is provided with a diagonal' slot 25 for the purpose of imparting transverse and progressive moven'ient to a marker as hereinafter descrilmd. -A supporting` plate 26 of any preferred form mounted above the ldes 20 and. 21 and secured in any preerred manner to the plate 19.' A transverse slot 27 is out in the plate 26 and a pencil carrier or marker 28 liavingatubular portion or hollow stem 29 of Vsuitable diameter is adapted. to cooperate with. the slot 27 and the diagonal cam slot 25, the marker being also porting the saine upon the plate 26 and a lower flange 30 cimperating with or im- "pingino against the underside of the guide plate 18. ArThus, it will be readily seen that 'upon reciprocating thel slide member 22 the marker 28 will be reeiprocated byv lvirtue of the diagonal nam slot 25 in a plane transverse thereto, or in other words, will be shifted back and forth in the transverse slot 27. As' illustrated in Fig-3, the slide 22 is provided'with a slot '22a of suitable llength to permit free movement of the slide relatively to a marker Al2#hereixnifter, "described. l

In its preferred :form the marking device carried within the hollow stem 29'eoii'prises, as illustrated. in Fig. 11, a sniteble'holder 31 baring a suitable bore therethrough for receiving a pene-il le i the ,lead being itioii i sans oi slotted grip- 'il spring 34; is slipped over the gr .5 whereupon the holder is in .e stem. .29, and a cap or closure Sii foreed down over the spring. A

ping finge Thus, the-pencil lead or stylus 33 will be resiliently controlled and will at all times durin operation be .firmly held against the recor ing tape by virtue o'f the continuous tension exerted b the spring 34 between the body 31 of the iolder and the top of the cap 35.

Extending upwardly from the supporting plate 26 are a pair of suitable supports 36 located in spaced relation for pivotally carr ing therebetween a vibratory member 38 aving pivots 37 adjacent to one end thereof mounted in the supports 36. This vibratory member is thus mounted, as clearly shown in a non-equilibrious manner, the pre onderance of weight thereof lying forwar ly of the pivots 37. The vibratory member, in order to permit reciprocation of the pencil carrier 28, is cut away ol' bifurcated as at 39 to form forwardly e'xtending arms 40. The vibratory member 38 is provided adjacent to its rear end, preferably with an integrally formed encil yguide 41 having a bore 41 for freey receiving a vibratory marker 42, the latter being supported by virtue of its ownweight and independentl of the vibratory member 38. As illustrate 'in Fig. 7 the pivotal axis of the vibratory member 38 passes through the central longitudinal axis of the marker 42, the latter having a suitable bore therethrough for receiving a pencil lead or stylus 43, it being out away at 42 at its upper end for permitting convenient manipulation of the marker for inserting or withdrawing the same.

" Iii-order toy oounterbalane the weight of the vibrator member 38 yieldable means is providedy or supporting the same, which I 'means also includes in its length resilient, 'means and having connections for predeterial, such as gut, havin at one end thereof a spring 44 connecte or secured as at 45, to the inner end of the vibratory member 38. The flexible supporting means 46 is passed around a pin or staple 47 carried at the rear of the casing, and is held in adjusted position by meansof a binding post 48 and a set screw 49.

Mounted upon a supporting plate 51* carried by the casing 10 is a suitable clock mechanism, 50. Adapted to be rotated thereby in a predetermined manner and suitably connected vto the driving arbor thereof is a reel or tape carrier 51. The latter is provided with an opening 52 to permit the clock mechanism to be wound. Secured to the supporting plate 51", as by means of a set screw 53* is a combined record or tape holder and marking table comprising, as illustrated in the present instance, a parhold the tape in operation firmly upon thel marking table, an adjustable or releasable tensioning device is provided, which comprises a flat spring 59 partially coiled so as to be resiliently held Within the holder 54, the forward portion thereof resiliently aring against the tape and having art upturned flange 60 for receiving the end of a bent releasing pin or lever 61, the horizontal shank 62thereof being held in suitable bearing brackets 63, thereby forming a fulcrum to permit suiiicient leverage for moving the spring 5 9 to various operative or inoperative positions. Thus, it will be seen that upon manipulating the handle 64 of the releasing pin 61, the tensioning spring 59 may be released from contact with the recording tape 57 as illustrated in Fig. 5, the headed or eye-formed end 64 of this releasing lever being adapted to be inserted or caughtunderneath the edge of the plate 18, thereby retaining the tensioning spring 59 in the position illustrated in Fig. 5; The constant tension of the spring 59 exerted against vthe upper coiled edge 59* of the holder 54 will at all times tend to force the spring to the operative position illustrated in Fig. 4 or Figfil.

be in- The recordingvtapcis adapted to serted in the-forni oa/roll yinto the open end of` the holder 54, andpasses therefrom over the marking table 'bet'wen the guides `56 and underneath the tension s ring 59, the -forwardend 75 of the tape as s own in Fig. 1 being preferably inserted into a slit in the upper surface of the reel 51. -The tape,

as illustrated in Fig. 9, may be divided by transverse lines into suitable spaces representing the hours or the sub-divisions thereof. The length of the cam groove 24 repre,- sents a given mileage, such as two miles, 4whereby upon one complete revolution of the' cam 11 slide 22 is reciprocated once, thereby reciprocating the marker 28 between t-he longitudinal lilies` 76 on the record tape, so that the-travel of the pencil across the tape represents a movement of one mile. y

The vibratory-pencil 43 is mounted so as to travel substantially over the longitudinal line 77 on the record tape. Inasmuch as the marker bears upon the tape by its own AIweight, the same will make substantially no mark upon the tape when the vehicle is not in motion and the engine thereof is stopped.

Upon starting the engine, however, the slight vibrations imparted thereby to the vehicle will cause the vibratory member 38 to vibrate against the yieldable or flexible support 46 thereby imparting slight vibrations to the pencil, W ich are graphically recorded by the line 78 illustrated in Fig. 9. When the vehicle is in motion however, the vibration thereof will be increased considerably, whereby the vibratory movement of the pencil 43 will be increased as indicated by the line 79 in Fig. 9. Thus, it will be seenthat I have provided an improved vibratory member, which will be sensitive to the slightest movement of the vehicle and will be ineffective or inoperative only when the vehicle is absolutely stationary, the same being controlled by a counterbalanced yor exi ly su ported vibratory member, but free] or s idinglg'e engaging the vibratory mem r so as to ar upon the tape by its own weight. As a result of this construction, the record obtained by the marker 43 will be accurate at all times, and will correctly represent the time during which the vehicle is stationary, the time during which the vehicle is not in motion but the engine running, and the time during which the vehicle is in motion and the engine running, The dotted lines 70 in Fig. 7 indicate the positions of the marker 42 and the vibratory member 38 when the latter is vibrated, the member 38 having a swinging oscillatory movement, which is compensated by the free slidable, movement of the marker 42 in the tube or bore 41.

ofcourse it will be understood that by virtue of the continuous operation of the lclock mechanism, the reel or drum 51 will yconstantly rotate thereby continuously winding the tape thereon, and at a predetermined rate' of speed irrespectivel of whether the engine is running and the vehicle in motion. As a result thereof, it will be readily seen in the graphical representa- -tion shown in F ig.'9, that the llongitudinal lines 80 made by the marker 28 represent the time during which the vehicle is stationary irrespective of whether the engine is runu ning or not. When the vehicle is not in motion and the engine stopped, no mark will be made by the marker 42, as indicated at 77, in Fig. 9.

It will be seen that I have provided, among other thin a novel combined vtape holder and marking table having integral means for guiding the tape thereover, and releasable adjustable tape `tensioning means carried by the holder independently thereof. The spaced guides 56 limit any transverse movement of the tape caused by the transverse movements of the .markers bearing thereu on. The tendency ofthe markers is to shilt) the tape sidewise therewith, thus resulting in inaccurate records. This is prelll , vented however by means of guides 56. The

purpose of the marking table is to prevent the breaking of the marker.` or pencil leads,

which is particularly liable to occur during the operation of an instrument where the marker operates directly upon the rotatable under the marker the lead'. contacts therewith, and is often broken. By virtue of the lever 61, the releasable tensioning spring 59 may be shifted to inoperative position and readily held in such position at any predetermined time, particularly when it is desired to replace. the tape rolls in the ytape holder.

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure, or arrangement, it is' not intended'to limit -the invention beyond the' terms of the several claims or the requirements of .the prior art. p

I claim as my invention:

1. In a recording machine the combination of a. marking instrumentality held down by substantiall its entire weight,

vibratory means there or having means for f iding said marking instrumentality so g that it will be freely movable relative to said vibratory means, and record supporting means effective to support a record in position to be engaged by the marking instrumentality and to maintain said marking instrumentalityv against displacement relatively to said vibratory means. 2. In a recording machine, the combination of vibratory means pivotally mounted in a non-equilibrious manner for swin ing lmovement. toward .and from the record-ren ceiving means, a recording marker slidingly engagin said vibratory means, and resilient means or counterbalancingfsaid vibratory ,'means. l

3. 'In a recording machine, the combination of supporting means, vibratory means Y pivotally connectedthereto, and a slidable recording marker acted upon by said vibratory means at the pivotal axis thereof.

` 4. In a recording machine, a vibratory member, means for pivotally su porting the same, a marking deviceshifta ly engaged thereb and extending substantially thru the pivota 'axis of said vibratory member.

,f -5. In a recording machine the combination of a continuously movable carrier,` a vrecord holder supported adjacent thereto vand having a marking table extending above said carrier, a record tensioning spring carried by said' holderand adapted to engage 1 n the record, and a handle member for s ing said spring out of engagement with' the record and for releasably locking the spring in such position.

6. lIn a recording machine, the combination of a continuously movable carrier for a record receiving means, a record holder supported adjacent thereto and a marking table extending therefrom, a recording marker engaging said record receiving means and movable transversely thereupon, and spaced imit any sidewise movement of the record receiving means caused by the transverse movement of the marker.

7. In a recordin uides carried by said table and adapted to` machine, the combination of a tape hol er, a record tape carried 8. A recording machine having a pivotally mounted vibratory member, and a marker freely engaging said vibratory member and extending thru the same at substantially the pivotal axis thereof.

tion of la record holder, a movable carrier,

' and record tensioning means, said holder and 9. In a recording machine the combina- Iy tensioning means having cooperating coiled portions.

10. In a recording machine, the combination of. a movable marker, a slide co-acting therewith, camm-ing means for reciprocating said slide thereby to reciprocate said marker in a plane transverse thereto, a vibratable arm and a marker shiftably engaged thereb 11. n a recordin machine the combination of record receiving means adaptedto.

be shifted in a predetermined path, a floating marker bearing on said means by its own Weight, and a vibratory member slidably engaging said marker.

v12. In a recording-machine the combination of a vibratory member, means for pivota-lly supporting the same, a marker con'- lhs trolled y said member, and resilient means for counterbalancing said member and acting in a direction transverse to the vibratory movement thereof.

13. In a recording machine tion of supporting means, vibratory means ivoted thereto, and a recordi marker aving the longitudinal axis thereo substantially'intersecting lthe pivotal axis of said vibratory means.

Signed at 1822 Park Row Building, New York city, NewYork, this 23rd day of September, 1921.1

-JUNIUS A. HOWE.

the combina- I 

